capsular contracture and rads

Unbreakable01

Hi,

I had radiation after my exchange surgery because some cells came back. I finished radiation in Dec. Along the side of my breast it's starting to get harder. How can one tell the difference between scar tissue and capsular contracture? p

KBeee

I am not sure it's possible to tell; your PS would know. I have really bad scar tissue after rads, but my PS does not want to do anything because he does not think I'll heal (I burned badly during rads). Sometimes if it gets really bad, they can do flap surgeries, but I'm not a candidate for most of them though. I do have a lot of scar tissue, it's very, very firm and the radiated side is a bit higher than the other side, but it still looks fine in clothes, which was my original goal. I was told this week by the lymphedema therapist (who's working to break up some scar tissue) that scar tissue can continue to for up to 2 years after rads. I did not know that.

Unbreakable01

Kbee thanks for the info. I'll see my surgeon Tuesday not sure if I'll need a referral again to see the ps. 2 years, that's a long time. It hasn't changed shape, it just hurts if I lay on my side a certain way